Release Date: December 21st, 2008
Running Time: 111 minutes

The Film

I had no desire to see Death Race when I saw the ads. I’m not really a racing fan, and the trailer just didn’t grab me. It’s too bad because I wish I had seen it in theatres. Despite the constant critical and fan thrashing he receives, I have always found Paul W.S. Anderson to be an entertaining filmmaker. His latest film marks his most aggressively violent effort since Event Horizon. Death Race: Unrated is an awesome, mindless action film that harkens back to the grindhouse days. With a technically spectacular Blu-ray, this is an experience that action gurus should not miss.

The film is essentially a prequel to Roger Corman’s Death Race 2000. In the near future the economy has gotten so bad that crime has risen drastically, crowding prisons. As a result, private corporations have taken over the correctional facilities. One of these corporations runs the Death Race—a pay-per-view event where inmates race with souped-up, weapons-enabled vehicles. On the racetrack are manholes that activate the weapons and defense capabilities of the vehicles, much like a video game. The race has over a 60% mortality rate, but if you win five races you get to go free.

Jason Statham stars as Jensen Ames, a steel mill worker with a racing past who gets laid off from his job. When he gets home his wife is murdered and he is framed for it. As a result, his baby is taken away from him, and he is put in a tough-as-nails prison. There the corporation head, Hennessey (Joan Allen), makes Ames a deal: take on the persona of the fan-favorite masked “Frankenstein” driver. The real Frank was horribly injured, but since he had four out of five wins, he is a major draw for the series. If James can win one final race as Frank, he will be set free. With a super-team of mechanics working on the ultimate vehicle, James will have to make his way through a slew of killers all with the same plan: be the last one alive.

I have to admit, I enjoyed the hell out of Death Race. The story is what it is, the dialogue can be hammy, but damn are there some awesome battle races. The Death Race is presented in a great PPV-style as if you were ordering the program, showing you the bios of the racers, and replays when they are eliminated (killed). The stunts are insane, most of which were done practically. The gore was very impressive as well. I have always felt, with the exception of Event Horizon, that Anderson had skimped too much on the red stuff. That is not a problem in this film. I don’t know why the film was panned. What were people expecting? It’s a balls-out, adrenaline-fueled popcorn film, nothing more, nothing less.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 2.35:1, 1080p High Definition transfer. The image is very sharp and shows off tons of fine detail even within the gritty filmmaking style. Every notch of damage to the vehicles, the light reflecting off the bullet casings—it’s all there. A good depth is produced through background details as well. Black levels are spot-on and never falter. Even through the lighting is often very dark, you can still see all the subtle differences between the vehicles. Colors are stylistically muted with a hefty amount of grain applied to enhance the feel, but the more colorful moments like the splashes of red blood are made all the more powerful. No compression artifacts or video noise hurt the image.

The audio is offered in an English DTS 5.1 Master Lossless audio track, as well as Spanish/French DTS 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish/French subtitles. This track is beyond active, featuring a level of aggression that is rarely seen in even the most robust action films. The vehicles whiz by all of the channels and weapons throw bullets from all angles. The dynamic range is unforgiving with deep bass hits from both the score and the vehicles themselves. Despite it all being extremely loud, every sound element remains distinct, making it a very immersive experience. Subtle ambient effects create a believable atmosphere in the non-racing sequences as well. Very occasionally the dialogue can get muffled underneath all the chaos, but other than that the audio is truly noteworthy.

The Extras

Universal has put together another impressive slate of extra content.

Commentary is offered on the unrated cut with Director Paul W.S. Anderson and Producer Jeremy Bolt. It is a good discussion covering the project from concept through post-production.

“Start Your Engines” is a 20-minute making-of featurette with cast/crew interviews and set footage. It is a mix of promotional fluff and legitimate production information, making it a somewhat mixed experience.

“Behind the Wheels: Dissecting the Stunts” is an 8-minute look at the various practical effects used in the thrilling car stunts. I was impressed how rarely CGI was used.

Universal’s U-Control features are where the real meat is located. “Tech Specs” allow you to pull up a file on each racer detailing their statistics and vehicles, as well as offering a live updated score card during the races. The “Picture-in-Picture” option has a ton of behind-the-scenes footage, far more than either of the featurettes. There is literally behind-the-scenes footage being displayed throughout the entire film covering just about everything you see on screen. It’s a shame that this footage wasn’t compiled into a stand-alone documentary.

Exclusive to the Blu-ray is the “Create Your Own Race” feature. You can edit together your own version of the race through a number of different camera angles, and share it via BD-Live. The biggest reason to explore this option is to see the unused footage that you have access to.

Other BD-Live options include My Chat and the option to record a video commentary called My Movie Commentary

Lastly, the disc is D-Box Motion Control enabled, and a Digital Copy of the film is included.

Final Thoughts

Like most of Paul W.S. Anderson’s work, Death Race: Unrated was unfairly panned. It is a wild piece of sensory pulp that should appeal to anyone who likes the grindhouse genre. With an explosive audio track, excellent visuals, and top-notch special features, Death Race: Unrated is a solid Blu-ray disc through and through.